Manu, the Spurs and the City of San Antonio went to sleep Sunday night hoping against hope that the pain in Ginobili's right ankle was the result of his normal/abnormal frenetic play in a losing effort against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tests conducted Monday in San Antonio revealed a stress f racture in the right distal fibula, the lower portion of one of the three bones that form the ankle joint. As a result, Ginobile will miss the remaining six games of the regular season , , , and all the playoffs.

San Antonio Express-News, 4-07-09

Add to the chill from this blue norther the turbulent low pressure of Tims Duncan's aching knees and the forecast for this season's Spurs is gloomy. The only hope for unclouded days ahead lies in a cohesion of the remaining talent into a tight-knit and precise tornado--often a characteristic of Coach Popovich's past teams.

Tony Parker has been Prince Valiant since Ginobili no longer has been coming off the bench, but Tony must be playing on the edge of fatigue. Above average efforts have primed him for occasional sub-normal depressions.
The Big Three has been reduced toa shaky "Big One and a Half". The entire squad must become the "Big Twelve".

In the meantime, inspiration can be found in the past:

David Robinson to enter the NBA Hall of Fame

David Robinson:

• led Spurs to two NBA championships, 1999 & 2003
• MVP in 1995
• four-time first team "All-NBA team", and ten time "All NBA team" member
• won NBA scoring tite in 1004
• three US Olymbic teams: bronze and two golds.

Robinson is easily reconized as a leading citizen in San Antonio.

A graduate of the US Naval Academy, he is known as "The Admiral" and during his fourteen year playing career with the Spurs he came to be known as half of the "Twin Towers" (with Tim Duncan). See more about Dave Robinson, Humanitarian. David also functions as a minister at Oak HIlls Church in San Antonio.

Go Spurs Go!